STANFORD, Calif. – Junior Joshua Karty was awarded the Irving S. Zeimer Award as the team's most valuable player for the 2022 season, while Jonathan McGill's leadership and respect from his teammates earned him the Al Masters Award at the Stanford football end-of-season banquet on Sunday at McCaw Hall at the Francis C. Arrillaga Alumni center.
Irving S. Zeimer Award - Joshua Karty
Awarded to the Team MVP
Karty is just the fourth placekicker in the NCAA since1996 to have a perfect season with at least 18 field goals made and just the third with 10+ makes from 40+ yards with no misses. He set a school record with a 61 yard field goal to close out the 125th Big Game, and also made kicks from 54 and 53 yards, for a total of 13 kicks made from 40+ yards.
Al Masters Award - Jonathan McGill
Awarded to the player displaying the highest degree of leadership and respect of his teammates
McGill is a team captain who started all 12 games after missing all but two games due to injury in the 2021 season. He finished second on the team in tackles with 51, had 5.5 tackles for loss, a team-high seven pass breakups, an interception and two fumble recoveries.
Tommy Vardell Award - Walter Rouse
Awarded to the junior or senior player who best epitomizes excellence in both academics and athletics
Rouse started 39 games in his career and is a finalist for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy. He has a 3.6 GPA as a biomechanical engineering major.
Jack Huston Award - Stephen Herron
Awarded to the player exemplifying aggressiveness, exceptional performance, and unheralded efforts
Herron is a senior American Studies major who led the team with 5.5 sacks and also had two forced fumbles.
Jim Reynolds Award - Michael Wilson
Awarded to the senior player whose courage on the field and devotion to the game are an inspiration to all
Wilson becomes a two-time recipient of the award. Despite an injury that forced him to miss the second half of the season, the two-time captain finished with 26 catches for 418 yards and led the team with four touchdown catches.
Outstanding Senior Award- Levani Damuni
A team captain who has been a key cog in the middle of the cardinal defense over the last three seasons, Damuni once again led the team in tackles with 76. During the 2022 season he added two forced fumbles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception.
Gundelach Award - Tanner McKee
Awarded to the most outstanding junior player
McKee started all 12 games and passed for 2,947 yards, the 9th-most in school history for a single season. He passed for 13 touchdowns and his 264 completions were tied for the fifth-most in school history for a single season.
Deswarte-Eller Award - Mitch Leigber
Awarded to the most outstanding sophomore player
Leigber is the ultimate player, making a position switch in the middle of the season. He started in the final four games of the season, rushing for 194 yards and a touchdown in each of the final two games, and added 16 catches for 124 yards.
Outstanding Freshman Award - David Bailey
Awarded to the most outstanding freshman player
Bailey is a true freshman who joined the program in January and made an immediate impact. He became the first defensive player since at least 2000 to start his first game as a true freshman, and finished fourth on the team with 46 tackles, including a team-best 8.5 tackles for loss with two forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks.
Phil Moffatt Awards - Joshua Karty and Bailey Parsons
Awarded to the top two most outstanding special teams performers
A two-time Moffatt award winner, Karty finished the season 18-of-18 on field goals and set a school record with a 61 yard field goal in the big game.
Parsons is a key member of the Cardinal special teams punt and PAT/FG units, firing off perfect snap after perfect snap all year long.
Team Technician Award - Drake Nugent
Awarded to the player demonstrating a positive attitude and a consistent commitment to strength and conditioning
Nugent displayed a commitment and a relentless pursuit of technician-level training, consistently set the tone in the off-season and his intensity, enthusiasm, competitiveness and love for the process in the weight room and on the field is infectious to his teammates.
The Billy Anderson Commitment to Community Outreach Award (Offense) - John Humphreys
Awarded to the offensive player who demonstrates a special commitment to community outreach.
Humphreys regularly volunteers for every opportunity presented, most recently organizing an event in East Palo Alto during the team's bye week and recently attending an event at Lucille-Packard Children's Hospital.
The Chris Draft Commitment to Community Outreach Award (Defense) - Patrick Fields
Awarded to the defensive player who demonstrates a special commitment to community outreach.
A two-time finalist for the prestigious Wuerffel Trophy, given to the college football player who "best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement," Fields has been active in the Stanford community since joining the Cardinal program from Oklahoma in January. He planned and executed a three-day mentorship and networking event prior to Juneteenth in his hometown of Tulsa, Okla.
Frank Rehm Awards - Elijah Higgins (offense), Ricky Miezan (defense)
Awarded to the most outstanding players in the Big Game
Greg Piers Awards – Danny McFadden and C.J. Hawkins (offense), Ernest Cooper and Tevarua Tafiti (defense), Scotty Edwards (special teams)
Awarded to the most outstanding special teams, offensive, and defensive scout team players